Advice for Clubs Following 2009 Rugby League Report

The report on the future of Rugby League in New Zealand, by an independent review committee, February 2009, has relevancy to many sport organisations. The issues that faced rugby league and the recommendations outlined in the report are timely reminders that are applicable to community sport clubs, regional and national sport organisations.
Warren Ogilvie, Sport Development Manager, has reviewed the report and highlighted some learnings for sport organisations.

1. Leadership
 Have a clear vision for the future, that is shared amongst members
 Ensure there is trust, openness, and transparency in dealing with issues.
 Ethics and standards must be maintained to provide credibility in the community.
 Articulate the values of the organisation. Important values to have, include : leadership, transparency, integrity, excellence, health and wellbeing
 Fiducial responsibility – Club leaders have fiducial responsibility - faith and trust has been placed in their hands to manage the club in a legal manner, on behalf of others, especially those of the future.
 Be prepared for change, and know how to manage change
 Look for continuous improvement
 The management committee need to earn respect as a result of transparent processes, visionary ideas, integrity, and sound decision making.
2. Planning
 Regularly plan to better manage change and to keep strong
 Have a Strategic plan that is SMART (( S= specific;M= measurable; A= achieveable; R= realistic; T= timeframe)
 Stakeholder communication plan: keep members, funders, sponsors , and other community organisations informed. Decide on what, how and how often matters, issues, news are communicated
 Funding plan: for funders/charitable agencies to invest in your organisation they want to see clarity of direction and robust sustainable governance.Have a funding plan – how core revenue will be prioritised and how variable income from funders will be prioritised but only implemented if funding is successful.
 Sport delivery- there needs be a sport performance plan or a sport development plan for the growth of teams, or participation; a plan for coach development, manager development, official development; a long term plan to gain success in the playing arena.
3. People
 The survival and growth of the game is married to grass roots development and participation. For clubs this means get the fundamental skills for children right and make it ‘fun’ for kids so they keep active for life. Not all training needs to involve a ball in the hand or at the feet, or a racket/stick in their hand. If children become proficient in the fundamental skills then their sporting performance will be better as the grow with the sport.
 Paid staff need to drive the direction and strategy of the organisation.
 Induction of volunteers- make sure that people who are given responsibility have adequate and appropriate knowledge on the organisation , the position or the project. Make sure volunteers are recognised for their efforts.
4. Sound and effective management
 The constitution needs to clearly support best practice governance – make sure it does not change too much to reduce consultation and member engagement.
 The legacy of the sport should not be a barrier for its future development- do not let history or actions of the past stop new ideas and a vision.
 Conflicts of interest must be declared prior to any committee meeting, especially if your children are involved.
Image your club /sport in 5 years time, and you have just been awarded ‘club of the year’. What would you say that your organsiation was successful in doing, and who was responsible for the achievement?

Finally here are some quotes from the report which are synonymous with most sports in NZ:
“It’s more than just a game- it plays a major role in developing young men and women in some of our most at risk communities. It has a critical role to play in the social fabric of New Zealand”
“When the great scorer comes, totally the score against our name, he marks, not whether you’ve won or lost , but how you’ve played the game.”
Acknowledgement: “Rugby League – contributing to New Zealand future “ . Report of the Independent Review Committee,chaired by Sir John Anderson, February 2009.

Should your club want assistance in becoming stronger, please contact either
Warren Ogilvie
Sport Development Manager
Ph 9663115
warren.ogilvie@sportwaitakere.co.nz

or

Steve Roberts
Sport Development Advisor
Ph 966 3100
steve.roberts@sportwaitakere.co.nz